Hot Spot.

This decision of the Allies in the face of the impending collapse of Fascist Italy leaves the Italian ruling class in a "hot spot." We have had a whisper of this position some two weeks ago, with the peace feelers sent out to President Roosevelt by the Italian ruling class, using the Vatican as the stooge. It is now clear that the ruling class, fearing Mussolini's capitulation, are making a desperate attempt to create a situation which will enable them to make a separate and honourable peace with the Allies. Mussolini and the fascist hierarchy has been deposed, and in their places an apparently anti-Mussolini-Fascist front of Victor Emmanuel and Bodaglio.

Mussolini has gone, but the real power of Fascism, the finance-capitalist oligarchy, remains intact, hoping to retain power by presenting this seemingly more respectable duet as a bait to entice the Allied Governments to consider a separate peace. Such a peace would be a stab in the back for the Italian people and facility for the Fascist sponsors to continue their exploitation and oppression.

We must not be fooled by this ruse. Our armies in Sicily have been received as friends—in Italy the underground anti-Fascist movement of freedom-loving Italians is gathering strength for the day of deliverance. We, the allied peoples, must not fail them.

The defeat of the Fascist military machine must be followed by unconditional surrender and the Italian people permitted to determine their own form of government.